Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

ABSTRACT

There is provided an information processing apparatus to allow a user to use a device network by a natural and simple operation by automatically selecting a device for providing a response to a request, the information processing apparatus including: a request acquiring part configured to acquire a request to a system; a response determining part configured to determine a response to the request; a device selecting part configured to select, on the basis of at least an attribute of the response, a device that provides the response among devices included in the system; and a device controller configured to perform control that causes the selected device to provide the response.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/113,301 (filed on Jul. 21, 2016), which is a National Stage PatentApplication of PCT International Patent Application No.PCT/JP2014/081430 (filed on Nov. 27, 2014) under 35 U.S.C. §371, whichclaims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-040840 (filed onMar. 3, 2014), which are all hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus,an information processing method, and a program.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, smart household appliances having an informationprocessing function and a network communication function have prevailedwidely. There are being constructed systems that support the user's lifeby controlling smart household appliances, information processingterminals such as smartphones, tablet terminals or personal computers,or a network attached storage (NAS) via a home network. The techniquesused by such systems are described in Patent Literature 1, for example.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP H11-311996 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, the device to be used in the network in a system such as thosedescribed above is determined by the user's choice. In other words, forexample, when a plurality of loud speakers is connected to the homenetwork, the user not only has to request playback of music, but alsohas to specify the loud speaker to be used to playback the music. Insuch a case, not only the operation for selection increases, but alsothe user may not be familiar with the names for specifying devices,which is not necessarily desirable in terms of making the user'soperation for using the system more natural and simple.

Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a new and improvedinformation processing apparatus, an information processing method, anda program that allow the user to use a device network by a natural andsimple operation by automatically selecting a device for providing aresponse to a request.

Solution to Problem

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an informationprocessing apparatus including: a request acquiring part configured toacquire a request to a system; a response determining part configured todetermine a response to the request; a device selecting part configuredto select, on the basis of at least an attribute of the response, adevice that provides the response among devices included in the system;and a device controller configured to perform control that causes theselected device to provide the response.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an informationprocessing method including: acquiring a request to a system;determining a response to the request; selecting, on the basis of atleast an attribute of the response, a device that provides the responseamong devices included in the system; and performing control that causesthe selected device to provide the response.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a program forcausing a computer to achieve: a function of acquiring a request to asystem; a function of determining a response to the request; a functionof selecting, on the basis of at least an attribute of the response, adevice that provides the response among devices included in the system;and a function of performing control that causes the selected device toprovide the response.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the aforementioned disclosure, the user can use a devicenetwork by a natural and simple operation by automatically selecting adevice for providing a response to a request.

Note that the effects described above are not necessarily limited, andalong with or instead of the effects, any effect that is desired to beintroduced in the present specification or other effects that can beexpected from the present specification may be exhibited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a serveraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example ofan agent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a device information DB in anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a first example of a specific useform of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a second example of a specific useform of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of aninformation processing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, (a) preferred embodiment(s) of the present disclosure willbe described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. In thisspecification and the drawings, elements that have substantially thesame function and structure are denoted with the same reference signs,and repeated explanation is omitted.

Note that, description will be provided in the following order.

1. Configuration example according to one embodiment

-   -   1-1. Configuration example of system    -   1-2. Configuration examples of devices    -   1-3. Configuration example of agent function    -   1-4. Examples of device information

2. Examples of specific use forms

-   -   2-1. First example    -   2-2. Second example    -   2-3. Other examples

3. Hardware Configuration

4. Supplement

1. Configuration Example According to One Embodiment 1-1. ConfigurationExample of System

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG.1, a system 10 includes an electronic device 100 and a network 200 towhich the electronic device 100 is connected. The system 10 may titherinclude a server 300 connected to the network 200.

The electronic device 100 is a device used by a user. The system 10 mayinclude multiple electronic devices 100. FIG. 1 shows, as examples ofthe electronic devices 100, TV 100 a, a loud speaker 100 b, a loudspeaker 100 c, a lighting apparatus 100 d, a tablet 100 e, a loudspeaker 100 f, a TV 100 g, a loud speaker 100 h, a NAS 100 i, a personalcomputer 100 j, a lighting apparatus look, and a smartphone 100 m.Examples of the electronic devices 100 are not limited to those devices,and may include any other devices that are connectable to the network200 such as a media player, a printer, a game console, anair-conditioning device, and a refrigerator. Most of the electronicdevices 100, such as from the TV 100 a to the personal computer 100 jmentioned above, may be placed inside the home (for example, livingroom, bedroom, and study), or may be carried outside the home like thesmartphone 100 m.

The network 200 is a wireless and/or wired network that connects theelectronic devices 100 to each other. For example, the network 200includes a LAN to which each of the devices placed inside the home isconnected. Further, the network 200 may include the Internet, a mobiletelephone network, and the like, to which the smartphone 100 m that iscarried outside the home and the server 300 are connected.

The server 300 provides an electronic device 100 with a service throughthe network 200. The server 300 is achieved by an information processingapparatus connected to the network 200, for example. The functions ofthe server 300 to be described later may be achieved by a singleinformation processing apparatus, or may be achieved in cooperation withmultiple information processing apparatuses connected through a wired orwireless network.

In the present embodiment, the system 10 has achieved therein a functionof automatically selecting a device for providing a response to a user'srequest acquired by any of the electronic devices 100. In the shownexample, the electronic device 100 on the network 200 is controlled byan agent function achieved by either the server 300 or the electronicdevice 100, for example. The agent function extracts a user's requestfrom a user's instruction input (for example, an audio input) acquiredby the TV 100 a, for example, and determines a response to the request.

Here, although the response may be provided to the user himself/herselfwho has issued the request, the choice of devices that provide theresponse is not limited to one. For example, when playback of music isinstructed to the TV 100 a, located in the living room, the music may beplayed back using a loud speaker built in the TV 100 a, or the music maybe played back using the loud speaker 100 b or the loud speaker 100 cwhich is also located in the living room. Therefore, the agent functionhas to select one of the electronic devices 100 supposed to provide theresponse.

In addition, when a response is provided to a different user from theuser who has issued the request, the choice of devices that provide aresponse may further increase. For example, when a user being away fromhome asks a smartphone 100 m to tell a family member at home to take inthe laundry, appropriate selection of a device, from the TV 100 a to thepersonal computer 100 j, to provide information differs depending onwhere the family member is located.

As thus described, it is not necessarily easy for an agent function inthe system 10 to select a device for providing a response to the user'srequest. However, it is troublesome for the user to specify the loudspeaker to be used when playing back music, for example. In addition, auser being away from home does not know the location of a family memberat home and therefore it is difficult to specify a device for providinginformation.

In the present embodiment, therefore, an agent function automaticallyselects a device which is suitable for providing a response, on thebasis of the attribute of the response determined to the request.Accordingly, the user is relieved of the requirement to always specify adevice when inputting a request to the agent function. In addition, theuser can leave the selection of the device to the agent function whenthe user does not know which device is suitable for providing aresponse.

1-2. Configuration Examples of Devices

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Referring to FIG. 2, an electronic device 100 may include an image/audiooutput part 110, an image/audio input part 120, an operation part 130, acontroller 140, a communication part 150, and a storage 160. Note thatthe configuration shown in the figure is simplified for the descriptionof the present embodiment, and the electronic device 100 may furtherinclude structural elements that are not shown in the figure. It shouldbe noted that, since the structural elements that are not shown in thefigure may already be known as general structural elements of eachdevice, and hence, the detailed explanation is omitted here.

The image/audio output part 110 may be achieved by a display thatoutputs an image and a loud speaker that outputs an audio, for example.The display may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or anorganic electro-luminescence (EL) display, and displays electronicallyvarious types of images in accordance with control performed by thecontroller 140. Note that, in the present specification, “images”include still images and motion images. The loud speaker outputs varioustypes of audios in accordance with control performed by the controller140. Note that the image/audio output part 110 may output one of theimage and the audio depending on the type of the electronic device 100,or the image/audio output part 110 may not be mounted.

The image/audio input part 120 may be achieved by a camera that acquiresan image and a microphone that acquires an audio, for example. Thecamera electronically captures a real space using an image sensor suchas a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and generates imagedata. The microphone records an audio such as user's utterances andgenerates the audio data, for example. The generated image and/or audiodata is provided to the controller 140. Note that the image/audio inputpart 120 may output one of the image and the audio depending on the typeof the electronic device 100. Alternatively, the image/audio input part120 may not be provided.

The operation part 130 may be achieved by a touch panel, a keyboard, amouse, a key pad, or a button, which acquires user's operation, forexample. Information indicating the user's operation acquired by theoperation part 130 is provided to the controller 140. In the electronicdevice 100, the user's instruction input may be acquired through theoperation part 130, or may be acquired through the image/audio inputpart 120 as an audio or a gesture. Accordingly, in the case where theelectronic device 100 acquires the user's instruction input mainly bythe operation part 130, the image/audio input part 120 may not beprovided, and, on the contrary, in the case where the electronic device100 acquires the instruction input mainly by the image/audio input part120, the operation part 130 may not be provided.

The controller 140 may be achieved by a processor such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) and/or a digital signal processor (DSP) operatingin accordance with a program stored in the storage 160. The controller140 controls operations of the respective parts of the electronic device100. For example, the controller 140 controls the image/audio outputpart 110 so as to output an image and/or an audio received through thecommunication part 150 or read from the storage 160. Further, thecontroller 140 controls the image/audio input part 120 so as to acquirethe image data and/or the audio data, processes the acquired data asnecessary, and transmits the data through the communication part 150 orstore the data in the storage 160. The controller 140 may execute thosecontrols in accordance with the user's instruction input acquiredthrough the operation part 130 or the image/audio input part 120, forexample.

The communication part 150 is a communication interface that supportswireless and/or wired communication scheme which configures the network200. The communication part 150 may include, for example, acommunication circuit, and an antenna or a port. Through thecommunication part 150, the controller 140 exchanges various types ofinformation with another electronic device 100 on the network 200 orwith the server 300.

The storage 160 may be achieved by semiconductor memory or a hard disk,for example. The storage 160 stores various types of data used in theelectronic device 100 or generated in the electronic device 100. Thestorage 160 has a temporary storage area, and may temporarily store aprogram being executed by the controller 140, data acquired by theimage/audio input part 120, and data received by the communication part150. Further, the storage 160 has a permanent storage area, and maystore a program to be executed by the controller 140, various types ofsetting data, local content data output from the image/audio output part110, data which is acquired by the image/audio input part 120 and whichthe operation part 130 gives instructions to store, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a serveraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG.3, the server 300 may include a controller 310, a communication part320, and a storage 330. Note that the configuration shown in the figureis simplified for the description of the present embodiment, and theserver 300 may further include structural elements that are not shown inthe figure. It should be noted that, since the structural elements thatare not shown in the figure may already be known as general structuralelements of the server, and hence, the detailed explanation is omittedhere. Further, as described above, the server 300 may be achieved by asingle information processing apparatus, or may be achieved incooperation with multiple information processing apparatuses.Accordingly, the structural elements shown in the figure may be achievedby multiple information processing apparatuses dispersedly.

The controller 310 may be achieved by a processor such as a CPU and/or aDSP operating in accordance with a program stored in the storage 330.The controller 310 controls operations of the respective parts of theserver 300. For example, the controller 310 refers to settinginformation and the like stored in the storage 330 as necessary andtransmits information to the electronic device 100 on the network 200through the communication part 320. The information may include acommand to cause the electronic device 100 to execute a given operation.Further, the controller 310 transmits to another electronic device 100information that may include a command on the basis of the resultobtained by processing the information received from the electronicdevice 100 through the communication part 320. Alternatively, thecontroller 310 may update information such as setting information storedin the storage 330 on the basis of the results obtained by processingthe information received from the electronic device 100 through thecommunication part 320.

The communication part 320 is a communication interface that supportswireless and/or wired communication scheme which configures the network200. The communication part 320 may include, for example, acommunication circuit, and a port or an antenna. Through thecommunication part 320, the controller 310 exchanges various types ofinformation with an electronic device 100 on the network 200.

The storage 330 may be achieved by semiconductor memory or a hard disk,for example. The storage 330 stores various types of data used in theserver 300 or generated in the server 300. The storage 330 has atemporary storage area, and may temporarily store a program beingexecuted by the controller 310, data received by the communication part320 from the electronic device 100, and data generated by the controller310. Further, the storage 330 has a permanent storage area, and maystore a program to be executed by the controller 310 and various typesof setting data.

1-3. Configuration Examples of Agent Function

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an agentfunction in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG.4, the agent function includes a request acquiring part 510, a responsedetermining part 520, a device selecting part 550, and a devicecontroller 580. The agent function may further include a user locationinformation acquiring part 540 and a device status monitoring part 590.In addition, the agent function may refer to a command DB 530, a userpreference DB 560, and a device information DB 570. These components areachieved by the controller 310 and the storage 330 of the aforementionedserver 300, for example. Alternatively, the aforementioned componentsmay be achieved by the controller 140 and the storage 160 of any of theelectronic devices 100 (for example, the TV 100 a and the smartphone 100m). In addition, the aforementioned components may be achieved by theelectronic device 100 and the server 300 in a distributed manner.

Note that, in the case where the electronic device 100 can achieve thefunctions of the agent, the system 10 may not include the server 300.Alternatively, the functions of the agent may be achieved by the server300 and also by the electronic device 100. In the case where the server300 is communicable with the network 200, the functions of the agent maybe achieved by the server, and otherwise by the electronic device 100instead. Hereinafter, respective components will be described in furtherdetail.

(Request Acquiring Part)

The request acquiring part 510 acquires a request from a user to thesystem 10. The request from the user is input to any of the electronicdevices 100. For example, the request from the user is input as audiodata using a microphone included in the image/audio input part 120 ofthe electronic device 100. In such a case, the user's request mayinclude uttered voice. Alternatively, the request from the user may beinput as image data using the camera included in the image/audio inputpart 120 of the electronic device 100. In such a case, a user's requestmay include a gesture image. In addition, the request from the user maybe input via the operation part 130 of the electronic device 100. Whenthe agent function is achieved by the server 300, or an electronicdevice 100 which is different from the electronic device 100 to whichthe request has been input, the request acquiring part 510 receives therequest via the network 200.

(Response Determining Part)

The response determining part 520 determines a response to the requestacquired by the request acquiring part 510. For example, when therequest has been acquired as audio data including uttered voice, theresponse determining part 520 performs voice recognition processing andextracts the content of uttered voice as a text, for example.Furthermore, the response determining part 520 determines a commandindicated by the user's uttered voice and a response to the command,referring to the command DB 530 on the basis of the extracted text. Inaddition, for example, when the request has been acquired as image dataincluding a gesture image, the response determining part 520 performsimage recognition processing, and extracts the content of the gesture.Furthermore, the response determining part 520 determines a commandindicated by the user's gesture and a response to the command, referringto the command. DB 530 on the basis of the content of the extractedgesture.

Here, the response determined by the response determining part 520 mayinclude any function that can be achieved by using one, or acombination, of the electronic devices 100. For example, the responsemay be an audio output using the electronic device 100 including a loudspeaker in the image/audio output part 110. In such a case, the audiooutput may be music content, for example, or may be a voice messageproviding certain information. In addition, the response may be an imageoutput using the electronic device 100 including a display in theimage/audio output part 110. In such a case, the image output may be animage content, for example, or may be a notification image providingcertain information. Furthermore, the response may be made such that theelectronic device 100 having specific functions, such as a lightingapparatus, a printer, an air conditioner, or a refrigerator, forexample, performs adjusting or turning on/off of the respectivefunctions. Note that, the act of providing a response to the user'srequest by the agent function is in itself a known technique andtherefore it is also possible in the present embodiment to apply suchexamples of request and response.

In addition, the response determined by the response determining part520 may be intended to be provided to any of the users using the system10. When the response is made by outputting audio or providing an image,for example, the response determining part 520 determines to which userthe audio or image is provided. The response determining part 520 mayextract information indicating the target user from the content of textor gesture extracted from the request, for example. Alternatively, theresponse determining part 520 may identify the user located closest tothe electronic device 100 to which the request has been input(identified by the user location information acquiring part 540), as thetarget to whom the response is to be provided.

(User Location Information Acquiring Part)

The user location information acquiring part 540 acquires locationinformation of the user relating to the response determined by theresponse determining part 520. For example, the user locationinformation acquiring part 540 may acquire user location information towhich the response is to be provided. Alternatively, the user locationinformation acquiring part 540 may acquire location information of auser who has input the request (may be the same target user to whom theresponse is to be provided). The user location information is acquiredusing, for example, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver of thesmartphone 100 m. in addition, when the user is at home, it is alsopossible to acquire the detailed user location information using a homesensor network or the like. Alternatively, the user location informationmay be acquired on the basis of analysis of the image or audio acquiredby the image/audio output part 110 of the electronic device 100, thelogin status to the service using the electronic device 100, or thelike. In such a case, the location information may be provided inassociation with each of the electronic devices 100.

(Device Selecting Part)

The device selecting part 550 selects, among a group of devicesavailable to the user, a device that provides a response, with regard tothe response determined by the response determining part 520 and on thebasis of at least the attribute of the response. In the presentembodiment, the group of devices available to the user is the electronicdevices 100 included in the system 10. For example, at least a portionof the electronic devices 100 has owners set thereto and, when access tothe electronic devices 100 is limited by the owners, the group ofdevices available to the user is the devices, among the electronicdevices 100, to which the user has been granted the access rights. Thedevice selecting part 550 may acquire information relating to the accessrights of the electronic devices 100 from the device information DB 570,

Here, for example, the attribute of the response includes the target towhom the response is to be provided, and the device selecting part 550may select a device that provides a response on the basis of thelocation of the target to whom the response is to be provided and thelocation of the device included in the system 10. The target user towhom the response is to be provided may be identified by the responsedetermining part 520 as described above. In addition, the user locationinformation may be acquired by the user location information acquiringpart 540. The location information of the device included in the system10 may be acquired from the device information DB 570, for example. Morespecifically, the device selecting part 550 may select, as the devicethat provides the response, one which is located close to the targetamong the electronic devices 100 capable of providing the responsedetermined by the response determining part 520.

When, in the aforementioned example, there is a change in at least oneof: the targets to which the response is to be provided, the location ofthe target, or the location of the electronic device 100, the deviceselecting part 550 may reselect a device that provides the response. Inother words, the device selecting part 550 may dynamically change theelectronic device 100 that provides the response when, for example, thetarget to whom the response is to be provided has been changed by arequest newly acquired by the request acquiring part 510, or when thetarget user or the electronic device 100 that provides the response hasmoved during provision of the response.

In addition, for example, the attribute of a response may include afunction achieved in the response, and the device selecting part 550 mayselect a device that provides the response, on the basis of theperformance of the electronic device 100 relating to the functionachieved in the response. The performance of the electronic device 100with regard to the function may be acquired from the device informationDB 570, for example. More specifically, the device selecting part 550may select, as the device that provides the response, the electronicdevice 100 with the highest performance with regard to the functionachieved in the response. For example, when the function to be achievedis provision of an image or audio, the device selecting part 550performs a combination of selections using location information, andselects the electronic device 100 with the highest performance withregard to provision of an image or audio, from the electronic devices100 in a predetermined range (for example, in the same room) on thebasis of the location of the target user. Alternatively, when thefunction to be achieved is a function which does not necessarily have tobe performed in the proximity of the user such as information search orimage processing, the device selecting part 550 may simply select theelectronic device 100 with the highest performance.

In the aforementioned example, the device selecting part 550 may selecta plurality of devices as the device that provides the response. Forexample, the device selecting part 550 may cause the plurality ofelectronic devices 100 to simultaneously and concurrently provide thefunction to be achieved in the response. Alternatively, the deviceselecting part 550 may divide the function to be achieved in theresponse among the plurality of electronic devices 100 and cause theplurality of electronic devices 100 to provide the function. Morespecifically, when playback functions of image and audio are to beachieved in the response, the device selecting part 550 may causedifferent electronic devices 100 to provide the image playback functionand the audio playback function. For example, in the case of the exampleof the system 10 shown in FIG. 1, the TV 100 a may playback image, andthe loud speaker 100 c may playback audio. In this case, the TV 100 amay be controlled to mute audio while playing back the image and audio.

In addition, for example, the device selecting part 550 may select adevice that provides a response on the basis of the preference of thetarget user to whom the response is to be provided. As has beendescribed above, the target user to whom the response is to be providedmay be specified by the response determining part 520 as has beendescribed above. In addition, the user's preference may be acquired fromthe user preference DB 560. The user preference DB 560 is generated onthe basis of for example, the use history of the electronic devices 100by each user using the system 10, information that has been explicitlyinput by each user, or the like. More specifically, the device selectingpart 550 may select, as the device that provides the response, theelectronic device 100 that best matches the preference of the targetuser to whom the response is to be provided.

Note that, the device selecting part 550 is not necessarily alwayscapable of selecting a device that provides a response. For example,there may be a case where no selectable device is discovered, as aresult of having applied a condition such as location, function and/orpreference. In addition, there may be a case where it is difficult toselect a device because the information included in the request acquiredby the request acquiring part 510 is incomplete. In such a case, thedevice selecting part 550 may output a notification that no device willbe selected, a request for additional information for selecting adevice, or the like, by controlling the electronic device 100 via thedevice controller 580.

(Device Controller)

The device controller 580 performs a control that causes the deviceselected by the device selecting part 550 to provide the responsedetermined by the response determining part 520. More specifically, thedevice controller 580 transmits a control command to the electronicdevice 100 via the network 200. In addition, for example, when thedevice selecting part 550 has failed to select a device that provides aresponse, the device controller 580 may control the electronic device100 to notify that no device has been selected, or output a messagerequesting for additional information for selecting a device. In such acase, the message may be output from the electronic device 100 to whichthe request has been input. Alternatively, the device controller 580 maycontrol the electronic device 100 to output a message notifying that aresponse has been provided in response to the request. In such a case,the electronic device 100 that provides the response is a differentdevice from the electronic device 100 to which the request has beeninput, and the message may be output from the electronic device 100 towhich the request has been input.

(Device Status Monitoring Part)

The device status monitoring part 590 monitors the electronic devices100 included in the system 10, and updates the device information DB 570as necessary. The device status monitoring part 590 updates the deviceinformation DB 570 in a case such as, for example, the electronic device100 has been moved, provision of a function by the electronic device 100has started or finished, or settings of the electronic device 100 havebeen changed.

1-4. Examples of Device Information

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the device information DB in anembodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 5, the deviceinformation DB 570 includes items of: ID 570 a, device type 570 b, place570 c, place-detail 570 d, owner 570 e, function 570 f, andfunction-detail 570 g. Note that, the content of the device informationDB 570 in the illustrated example does not necessarily coincide with theexample of the system 10 shown in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, respective itemswill be further described.

The ID 570 a is used to identify each device information. The devicetype 570 b indicates the type of the electronic device 100. For example,when the device selecting part 550 selects a device on the basis of theuser's preference, the device type 570 b may be used for the selection.More specifically, when a user's preference such as “prefers tablet totelevision when performing Web browsing” is indicated in the userpreference DB 560, a tablet instead of a television may be selected onthe basis of the device type 570 b.

The place 570 c indicates a general location of the electronic device100. In the illustrated example, rooms in the house (living room, study,bedroom, etc.) are recorded as the place 570 c. The place 570 c isrecorded on the basis of setting information input by the user, forexample, when the electronic device 100 is installed. The place-detail570 d indicates details of the location of the electronic device 100. Inthe illustrated example, coordinates of three axes X, Y and Z arerecorded as the place-detail 570 d. The place-detail 570 d is acquiredusing GPS or a home sensor network, for example.

Note that, the place 570 c and the place-detail 570 d may be differentfrom each other, depending on the situation. For example, when a tabletin the living room has been temporarily moved to the bedroom, the place570 c remains to be “living room” as long as the setting information isnot changed, but the place-detail 570 d may be changed to thecoordinates of the bedroom in accordance with the movement of thedevice. Alternatively, the place 570 c may be changed together with themovement of the electronic device 100 in a case where the place 570 c isset on the basis of the place-detail 570 d instead of the settinginformation.

For example, when the device selecting part 550 selects a device on thebasis of the location information of the electronic device 100, theplace 570 c and/or the place-detail 570 d may be used for the selection.More specifically, the device selecting part 550 selects the electronicdevice 100 which is indicated by the place 570 c or the place-detail 570d to be located near the target user to whom the response is to beprovided. When the place 570 c and/or the place-detail 570 d has beenchanged because the electronic device 100 has been moved, the deviceselecting part 550 may dynamically change the device to be selected, andthereby the electronic device 100 may be newly selected as a device thatprovides a response or eliminated from the devices that provide aresponse.

The owner 570 e indicates the owner of the electronic device 100 or auser accessible thereto. In the illustrated example, “shared” or“father” is set to the owner 570 e. “Shared” indicates that there is nolimitation on accessing the electronic device 100 and all the usersusing the system 10 (for example, all the family members) can use theelectronic device 100. “Father” indicates that the access rights to theelectronic device 100 are granted only to the father. It goes withoutsaying that the access rights are not limited to the father but may begranted to the mother, children, or combinations thereof.

For example, when selecting a device that provides a response, thedevice selecting part 550 may first perform filtering of the device onthe basis of the owner 570 e. More specifically, the electronic device100 may be excluded from the targets of selection unless both the userwho has input the request and the target user of the response can usethe electronic device 100. In addition, whether or not to include theelectronic device 100 as a candidate of selection when only any one ofthe users can use the electronic device 100 can be determined inaccordance with the settings by the user, or the type of function to beprovided in the response.

The function 570 f indicates the type of function that can be providedby the electronic device 100. The function-detail 570 g indicates thespecification of the electronic device 100 with regard to the function.The items may be acquired from a database on the network, on the basisof information such as the model number provided to the agent functionwhen the electronic device 100 is added to the system 10, for example.For example, the device selecting part 550 may perform filtering on thebasis of the function 570 f, when selecting a device that provides aresponse. More specifically, the electronic device 100 which is notcapable of achieving the function to be provided in the response may beexcluded from the candidates of selection.

Furthermore, for example, when the device selecting part 550 selects adevice on the basis of performance of the electronic device 100, thefunction-detail 570 g may be used for the selection. More specifically,the device selecting part 550 may select, as a device that provides aresponse, the electronic device 100 which is indicated to have thehighest performance with regard to the function to be achieved in aresponse, according to the function-detail 570 g. In the illustratedexample, the function-detail 570 g may include further items, inaddition to the items of video, audio, microphone, and network.

In addition, when a plurality of functions is to be achieved in theresponse, the device selecting part 550 may select the electronicdevices 100 individually for each function, on the basis of thefunction-detail 570 g. For example, when video and audio playbackfunctions are to be achieved in the response, the device selecting part550 may select a television with regard to the video playback functionand a loud speaker with regard to the audio playback function,respectively, provided that the function-detail 570 g indicates that thetelevision has the highest performance with regard to the video playbackfunction and the loud speaker has the highest performance with regard tothe audio playback function.

Note that, the device information DB 570 may include various items otherthan the aforementioned examples. For example, the device information DB570 may include items indicating the functions being provided by theelectronic device 100. In addition, the device information DB 570 mayinclude items indicated by the user who is using the electronic device100.

Construction of the device information DB 570 such as the aforementionedexample allows the device selecting part 550 to automatically select adevice that provides a response, according to the agent function of thepresent embodiment.

2. Examples of Specific Use Form 2-1. First Example

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a first example of a specific useform of an embodiment according to the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 6, in the system 10 shown in FIG. 1, the loud speaker 1.00 cinstalled in the living room is playing back music. On this occasion,the loud speaker 100 c notifies the TV 100 a achieving the agentfunction that music content is being played back (S101). Upon receivingthe notification, the device status monitoring part 590 in the TV 100 arecords the fact that the loud speaker 100 c is playing back musiccontent, as well as information for identifying the music content(stored in the NAS 100 i, for example) being played back, in the deviceinformation DB 570, according to the agent function achieved by thecontroller 140.

Here, let us assume that the user has uttered “tell me the rest in thebathroom” into the TV 100 a (S103). In the TV 100 a, a microphoneincluded in the image/audio input part 120 acquires the uttered voice,and the audio data output from the microphone is provided to thecontroller 140 achieving the agent function as the request from theuser. In the agent function, the response determining part 520determines a response on the basis of the aforementioned audio dataacquired by the request acquiring part 510. The response determiningpart 520 analyzes the request by performing voice recognition or naturallanguage processing, for example, to determine a response thereto. Inthe illustrated example, the response is to “keep, with a device in thebathroom, playing back the music content currently provided to theuser”. Note that, the controller 140 of the TV 100 a may ask the server300 to perform voice recognition or natural language processing via thenetwork 200.

Furthermore, in the agent function, the device selecting part 550selects a device that provides a response. In the illustrated example,the loud speaker 100 f is selected because the place for providing theresponse is the bathroom and the function to be achieved in the responseis playback of music content, (S105). The device controller 580 performsa control that causes the device selected by the device selecting part550. i.e., the loud speaker 100 f to provide the response. Morespecifically, the device controller 580 transmits a control command tothe loud speaker 100 f in the bathroom so as to continuously playbackthe music content having been played back by the loud speaker 100 c inthe living room until then (S107). The control command on this occasionmay include information indicating the location of the music content(for example, the NAS 100 i) and the location to start the playback.

Furthermore, after the control command has been transmitted to the loudspeaker 100 f, or an acknowledgement for the control command has beenreturned, the device controller 580 may notify, as an additionalprocess, the user who has input the request to the TV 100 a that theresponse (switchover of playback of the music content to the loudspeaker in the bathroom) has been performed (S109). The notification maybe output as an audio, or may be output as an image using GUI or thelike. Subsequently, when it is detected that the user has moved from theliving room, for example, using a sensor, a camera, or the like, thedevice controller 580 may transmit a control command to stop playingback the music content to the loud speaker 100 c (S111).

2-2. Second Example

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a second example of a specific useform of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 7, inthe system 10 shown in FIG. 1, the smartphone 100 m carried by a user(father) to the outside (workplace) regularly transmits locationinformation to the server 300 achieving the agent function (S201). Here,let us assume that a user (mother) has uttered “tell dad to buy milk onhis way home” into the tablet 100 e in the house (S203). In the tablet100 e, a microphone included in the image/audio input part 120 acquiresthe uttered voice. The audio data output from the microphone istransmitted from the tablet 100 e to the server 300 via the network 200(S205).

In the server 300, the request acquiring part 510 of the agent functionacquires the audio data, and the response determining part 520determines a response on the basis of the audio data. Similarly to theaforementioned first example, the response determining part 520 performsvoice recognition or natural language processing, for example, anddetermines a response to the user's request. In the illustrated example,the response is to “notify dad to buy milk”. Furthermore, in the agentfunction, the device selecting part 550 selects a device that providesthe response. In the illustrated example, the father is the target userto whom the response is to be provided and therefore the deviceselecting part 550 selects the electronic device 100 located closest tothe father, i.e., the smartphone 100 m carried by the father being awayfrom home, as the device that provides the response (S207).

Subsequently, the device controller 580 performs a control that causesthe smartphone 100 m selected by the device selecting part 550 toprovide the response. More specifically, the device controller 580transmits a control command so that the smartphone 100 m outputs anotification (S209). The control command on this occasion may includeinformation indicating the content of the notification (request to buymilk on his way home) and the requester (the user who has input therequest to the tablet 100 e, i.e., the mother).

Furthermore, after the control command has been transmitted to thesmartphone 100 m, or an acknowledgement to the control command has beenreturned, the device controller 580 may notify, as an additionalprocess, the user who has input the request to the tablet 100 e that theresponse (notification to the father via the smartphone 100 m) has beenperformed. (S211, S213). The notification may be output as an audio, ormay be output as an image using GUI.

2-3. Other Examples Another Example—1

A variety of examples are also possible without being limited to theexamples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 described above. For example, let usassume that a user has uttered “playback a movie on TV” into the TV 100a when the user wants to watch a movie on the TV 100 a in the livingroom. On this occasion, the response determining part 520 determines aresponse in the agent function (achieved by the TV 100 a, anotherelectronic device 100, or the server 300, for example), on the basis ofthe request (audio data including the user's uttered voice) acquired bythe request acquiring part 510. In the response of such a case, afunction of “displaying images of the movie (video content)” and afunction of “outputting audio of the movie (video content)” areachieved.

Accordingly, the device selecting part 550 selects a device having thehighest performance with regard to the image display function and adevice having the highest performance with regard to the audio outputfunction, among the electronic devices 100 located in the living room.Specifically, the TV 100 a and the loud speaker 100 c are selected asdevices having the highest performance with regard to image display andaudio output, respectively. Here, the device selecting part 550 mayfurther identify the location where the user is sitting down in theliving room, and select the loud speaker 100 c as the device capable ofproviding the most suitable audio for the location. Subsequent to suchprocessing by the device selecting part 550, the device controller 580transmits a control command to the TV 100 a and the loud speaker 100 c.The control command may include information indicating the method ofacquiring the video content (for example, receiving broadcast wave usinga tuner of the TV 100 a, or reading from the NAS 100 i). Furthermore,the control command transmitted to the TV 100 a may include aninstruction to mute the audio output of the video content.

Another Example—2

In addition, the agent function may be capable of providing a requestwith a response which is more complicated or activated after a while.For example, let us assume that the mother, when going out, provides aninput to the microphone included in the lighting apparatus 100 k at theentrance by uttering “tell my son when he returns home that there is asnack in the cupboard”. In the agent function, on this occasion,although the request acquiring part 510 acquires the aforementionedaudio input, and the response determining part 520 determines a responseto the request (notification to the son), the son has not come home vetat the time point and therefore the user location information acquiringpart 540 cannot acquire the location information of the son who is thetarget of the response.

In such a case, the device selecting part 550 determines that theresponse should be provided after a while on the basis of the content ofthe request “when he returns”, for example, and puts off providing theresponse. Subsequently, when the son comes home, the user locationinformation acquiring part 540 acquires the location information of theson from the analysis of images acquired by the camera included in thelighting apparatus 100 k, for example. Accordingly, the device selectingpart 550, which has determined that it has become possible to providethe response, selects the electronic device 100 located closest to thelocation of the son at the time point, i.e., the loud speaker 100 b inthe living room for example, as the device that provides the response,and the device controller 580 transmits a control command to output avoice notification “there is a snack in the cupboard” from the loudspeaker 100 b.

Another Example—3

In addition, the agent function does not necessarily have to acquire theuser's explicit utterance, gesture, or operation as a request. The agentfunction may extract a request to the system 10 from a motion of theuser (who is not particularly aware of operating the device) or anatural phenomenon. For example, in a case where rain which has begun tofall and laundry being hung appear in an image acquired by theelectronic device 100 (not shown in FIG. 1) including a camera shootingthe outside of a window, the request acquiring part 510 and the responsedetermining part 520 may recognize the aforementioned phenomenon viaimage analysis, and automatically identify a virtual request “notifysomebody in the house to take in the laundry” and a responsecorresponding thereto.

In such a case, the device selecting part 550 selects, as a device thatprovides a response, the electronic device 100 located close to a user(need not be identified) being in the house, on the basis of thelocation information acquired by the user location information acquiringpart 540. For example, in a case where the user location informationacquiring part 540 has detected that the father is in the study fromanalysis of an image acquired by the camera included in the personalcomputer 100 j located in the study, the device selecting part 550selects the personal computer 100 j as the device that provides theresponse (notification). In such a case, the device controller 580transmits a control command to output a voice notification “take in thelaundry” from the loud speaker included in the personal computer 100 j.

As has been described above, the agent function provided in anembodiment of the present disclosure allows the user to use a devicenetwork with a natural and simple operation, by automatically selectinga device for providing a response to a request in various situationswithin the system 10, for example.

Note that, although the system 10 including the electronic device 100installed at home has been illustrated in the above describedembodiments, the present technique can be applied without being limitedto such examples. For example, a similar system can be built in anoffice or a car as with the case at home. In addition, the electronicdevices available to the user may be distributed in various places suchas at home, in an office or a car, instead of being centered at aparticular place.

3. Hardware Configuration

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a hardware configuration of aninformation processing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showinga hardware configuration example of an information processing apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. An informationprocessing apparatus 900 which is shown may achieve the electronicdevice and the server in the above described embodiments, for example.

The information processing apparatus 900 includes a central processingunit (CPU) 901, read only memory (ROM) 903, and random access memory(RAM) 905. Further, the information processing apparatus 900 may alsoinclude a host bus 907, a bridge 909, an external bus 911, an interface913, an input device 915, an output device 917, a storage device 919, adrive 921, a connection port 923, and a communication device 925.Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 900 may include animaging device 933 and a sensor 935 as necessary. The informationprocessing apparatus 900 may also include, instead of or along with theCPU 901, a processing circuit such as a digital signal processor (DSP)or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

The CPU 901 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a controlunit and controls an entire operation or a part of the operation of theinformation processing apparatus 900 according to various programsrecorded in the ROM 903, the RAM 905, the storage device 919, or aremovable recording medium 927. The ROM 903 stores programs andarithmetic parameters used by the CPU 901. The RAM 905 primarily storesprograms used in execution of the CPU 901 and parameters and the likevarying as appropriate during the execution. The CPU 901, the ROM 903,and the RAM 905 are connected to each other via the host bus 907configured from an internal bus such as a CPU bus or the like. Inaddition, the host bus 907 is connected to the external bus 911 such asa peripheral component interconnect/interface (PCI) bus via the bridge909.

The input device 915 is a device operated by a user, such as a mouse, akeyboard, a touch panel, buttons, a switch, and a lever Also, the inputdevice 915 may be a remote control device using, for example, infraredlight or other radio waves, or may be an external connection device 929such as a cell phone compatible with the operation of the informationprocessing apparatus 900. The input device 915 includes an input controlcircuit that generates an input signal on the basis of information inputby the user and outputs the input signal to the CPU 901. The user inputsvarious kinds of data to the information processing apparatus 900 andinstructs the information processing apparatus 900 to perform aprocessing operation by operating the input device 915.

The output device 917 is configured from a device capable of visually oraurally notifying the user of acquired information. For example, theoutput device 917 may be: a display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), or an organicelectro-luminescence (EL) display; an audio output device such as aspeaker or headphones; or a printer. The output device 917 outputsresults obtained by the processing performed by the informationprocessing apparatus 900 as video in the form of text or an image or asaudio in the form of audio or sound.

The storage device 919 is a device for storing data configured as anexample of a storage unit of the information processing apparatus 900.The storage device 919 is configured from, for example, a magneticstorage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a semiconductor storagedevice, an optical storage device, or a magneto-optical storage device.This storage device 919 stores programs to be executed by the CPU 901,various data, and various data obtained from the outside.

The drive 921 is a reader/writer for the removable recording medium 927such as a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disk, or asemiconductor memory, and is built in or externally attached to theinformation processing apparatus 900. The drive 921 reads outinformation recorded on the attached removable recording medium 927, andoutputs the information to the RAM 905. Further, the drive 921 writesthe record on the attached removable recording medium 927.

The connection port 923 is a port for allowing devices to directlyconnect to the information processing apparatus 900. Examples of theconnection port 923 include a universal serial bus (USB) port, anIEEE1394 port, and a small computer system interface (SCSI) port. Otherexamples of the connection port 923 may include an RS-232C port, anoptical audio terminal, and a high-definition multimedia interface(HDMI) (registered trademark) port. The connection of the externalconnection device 929 to the connection port 923 may enable the variousdata exchange between the information processing apparatus 900 and theexternal connection device 929.

The communication device 925 is a communication interface configuredfrom, for example, a communication device for establishing a connectionto a communication network 931. The communication device 925 is, forexample, a wired or wireless local area network (LAN), Bluetooth(registered trademark), a communication card for wireless USB (WUSB), orthe like. Alternatively, the communication device 925 may be a routerfor optical communication, a router for asymmetric digital subscriberline (ADSL), a modem for various communications, or the like. Thecommunication device 925 can transmit and receive signals and the likeusing a certain protocol such as TCP/IP on the Internet and with othercommunication devices, for example. The communication network 931connected to the communication device 925 is configured from a networkwhich is connected via wire or wirelessly and is, for example, theInternet, a home-use LAN, infrared communication, radio wavecommunication, and satellite communication.

The imaging device 933 is a device which images a real space by use ofvarious members including an image sensor such as a charge coupleddevice (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and alens for controlling image formation of a subject on the image sensor,and generates a pickup image. The imaging device 933 may image a stillimage or a moving image.

The sensor 935 is any of various sensors such as an acceleration sensor,a gyro sensor, a magnetic field sensor, an optical sensor, and a soundsensor. For example, the sensor 935 acquires information related to thestate of the information processing apparatus 900 itself, such as theposture of the housing of the information processing apparatus 900, orinformation related to the peripheral environment of the informationprocessing, apparatus 900, such as the brightness or noise around theinformation processing apparatus 900. Further, the sensor 935 mayinclude a global positioning system (GPS) sensor which measures thelatitude, the longitude, and the altitude of the apparatus by receivinga GPS.

Heretofore, an example of the hardware configuration of the informationprocessing apparatus 900 has been shown. Each of the structural elementsdescribed above may be configured using a general-purpose material, ormay be configured from hardware dedicated to the function of eachstructural element. The configuration may be changed as appropriateaccording to the technical level at the time of carrying outembodiments.

4. Supplement

The embodiments of the present disclosure may include the informationprocessing apparatus (electronic device), the system, the informationprocessing method executed in the information processing apparatus orthe system, the program for causing the information processing apparatusto function, and the non-transitory tangible media having the programrecorded thereon, which have been described above, for example.

The preferred embodiment(s) of the present disclosure has/have beendescribed above with reference to the accompanying drawings, whilst thepresent disclosure is not limited to the above examples. A personskilled in the art may find various alterations and modifications withinthe scope of the appended claims, and it should be understood that theywill naturally come under the technical scope of the present disclosure.

In addition, the effects described in the present specification aremerely illustrative and demonstrative, and not imitative. In otherwords, the technology according to the present disclosure can exhibitother effects that are evident to those skilled in the art along with orinstead of the effects based on the present specification.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

-   (1)

An information processing apparatus including:

a request acquiring part configured to acquire a request to a system;

a response determining part configured to determine a response to therequest;

a device selecting part configured to select, on the basis of at leastan attribute of the response, a device that provides the response amongdevices included in the system; and

a device controller configured to perform control that causes theselected device to provide the response.

-   (2)

The information processing apparatus according to (1), wherein

the attribute of the response includes a target to which the response isto be provided, and

the device selecting part selects, on the basis of a location of thetarget and locations of the devices included in the system, a devicethat provides the response.

-   (3)

The information processing apparatus according to (2), wherein thedevice selecting part selects a device located close to the target.

-   (4)

The information processing apparatus according to (2) or (3), whereinthe device selecting part reselects a device that provides the responsewhen there is a change in at least any of the target, location of thetarget, or locations of the devices included in the system.

-   (5)

The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4),wherein

the attribute of the response includes functions to be achieved by theresponse, and

the device selecting part selects, on the basis of performance withregard to the functions of the devices included in the system, a devicethat provides the response.

-   (6)

The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5),wherein

the functions to be achieved by the response include a first functionand a second function, and

the device selecting part selects a first device achieving the firstfunction and a second device achieving the second function.

-   (7)

The information processing apparatus according to (6), wherein

the functions to be achieved by the response include playback of videocontent,

the device selecting part selects the first device displaying images ofthe video content and the second device outputting audio of the videocontent, and

the device controller performs control that displays the images of thevideo content on the first device, and also mutes the audio of the videocontent.

-   (8)

The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7),wherein

the attribute of the response includes a target to which the response isto be provided, and

the device selecting part selects, on the basis of preference of a userwho is the target, a device that provides the response.

-   (9)

The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8),wherein the device controller performs control that causes a device towhich the request has been input to request additional information forselecting a device that provides the response

-   (10)

The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (9),wherein the device controller performs control that causes a device towhich the request has been input to notify that a response has beenprovided by the selected device.

-   (11)

An information processing method including:

acquiring a request to a system;

determining a response to the request;

selecting, on the basis of at least an attribute of the response, adevice that provides the response among devices included in the system;and

performing control that causes the selected device to provide theresponse.

-   (12)

A program for causing a computer to achieve:

a function of acquiring a request to a system;

a function of determining a response to the request;

a function of selecting, on the basis of at least an attribute of theresponse, a device that provides the response among devices included inthe system; and

a function of performing control that causes the selected device toprovide the response.

30

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 system-   100 electronic device-   110 image/audio output part-   120 image/audio acquiring part-   130 operation part-   140 controller-   150 communication part-   160 storage-   200 network-   300 server-   310 controller-   320 communication part-   330 storage-   510 request acquiring part-   520 response determining part-   550 device selecting part-   580 device controller

1-12. (canceled)
 13. An information processing apparatus comprising:circuitry configured to: acquire a request to a system; determine aresponse to the request; select a device that provides the responseamong devices included in the system on the basis of at least anattribute of the response, wherein the attribute of the responseincludes functions to be achieved by the response; and transmit at leastone control command that causes the selected device to provide theresponse, wherein the request does not explicitly include selection ofany device to provide the response.
 14. The information processingapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the request is input to theselected device.
 15. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the request is input to another device among thedevices included in the system.
 16. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein the circuitry is further configured toselect a plurality of devices that provide the response, from among thedevices included in the system, on the basis of at least the attributeof the response.
 17. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the request to the system is acquired from an input bya user.
 18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17,wherein the attribute of the response includes a target to which theresponse is to be provided, and the circuity is further configured to:select, based on a preference of another user who is the target, adevice that provides the response.
 19. The information processingapparatus according to claim 18, wherein the circuity is furtherconfigured to: select, based on a location of the another user andlocations of the devices included in the system, a device that providesthe response.
 20. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 18, wherein the circuity is further configured to: select a deviceclosest to the another user as the device that provides the response.21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, whereinat least one device of the devices included in the system has at leastone owner set thereto.
 22. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 21, wherein when access to the devices included inthe system is limited by the owners, a group of devices available to theuser includes at least one device, among the devices included in thesystem, to which the user has been granted access rights.
 23. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the atleast one owner of the at least one device indicates at least one useraccessible to the at least one device.
 24. The information processingapparatus according to claim 18, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to: exclude from selection, when selecting the device thatprovides the response from among the devices included in the system,devices, among the devices included in the system, in which the user andthe another user are not owners.
 25. The information processingapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the request does not explicitlyinclude selection of any specifically designated device to provide theresponse.
 26. The information processing apparatus according to claim13, wherein the request does not explicitly designate any specificdevice to provide the response.
 27. An information processing methodcomprising: acquiring a request to a system; determining a response tothe request; selecting a device that provides the response among devicesincluded in the system on the basis of at least an attribute of theresponse, wherein the attribute of the response includes functions to beachieved by the response; and transmitting at least one control commandthat causes the selected device to provide the response, wherein therequest does not explicitly include selection of any device to providethe response.
 28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium havingembodied thereon a program, which when executed by a computer causes thecomputer to execute a method, the method comprising: acquiring a requestto a system; determining a response to the request; selecting a devicethat provides the response among devices included in the system on thebasis of at least an attribute of the response, wherein the attribute ofthe response includes functions to be achieved by the response; andtransmitting at least one control command that causes the selecteddevice to provide the response, wherein the request does not explicitlyinclude selection of any device to provide the response.